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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 116 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: plane · deal · can · kid · press · spring · net · leaves

  1. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  2. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  3. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  18. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  19. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  20. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  24. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. kid — child
  2. spring — the season
  3. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. press — newspapers
  6. can — a tin
  7. net — in sport
  8. press — to push
  9. can — a tin
  10. plane — a tool
  11. net — after costs
  12. deal — to handle
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. spring — of water
  18. press — a publisher
  19. net — for catching
  20. kid — to tease
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. can — to be able to
  23. spring — a coil
  24. plane — in geometry

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com